Post by zpustka on Oct 31, 2007 17:33:15 GMT -5
Sammy Sosa is back on the free agent market.
Sosa, who hit .252, led the team in home runs with 21 home runs while collecting 92 RBIs, officially filed for free agency on Tuesday. The Rangers have expressed some interest in bringing Sosa back in 2008, and general manager Jon Daniels conveyed those sentiments to agent Adam Katz at the end of the season.
But the Rangers will likely let Sosa explore the free agent market before they resume negotiations. Sosa has made it clear that he would also like to return to the Rangers.
Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. also filed for free agency. Rangers outfielder Brad Wilkerson and pitcher Jamey Wright are also eligible for free agency but have not yet filed. Daniels is already having discussions with Wright's agent, Casey Close, about a contract for next year.
Wright was 4-5 with a 3.62 ERA for the Rangers in 2007, splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen, however, the Rangers would likely bring him back as a bullpen candidate in '08. None of the Rangers free agents are ranked high enough to merit compensation.
The Elias Rankings have come out and Rangers shortstop Michael Young was ranked No. 1 among all American League second basemen, third basemen and shortstops, based on his statistics in 2006-07. He was ranked higher than Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez, among others. The only player at any of those three positions ranked higher than Young was Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.
Personally, I like this move. I think that Sammy had a great year with us, but he needs to move on, so that we can take a look at our own player such as Jason Botts. Botts slid into the the DH spot after the All-Star Break in September, and got off to a slow start. The Rangers need to take a look at this kid in the offseason and in ST...to see if in fact he is the "answer".
Sosa, who hit .252, led the team in home runs with 21 home runs while collecting 92 RBIs, officially filed for free agency on Tuesday. The Rangers have expressed some interest in bringing Sosa back in 2008, and general manager Jon Daniels conveyed those sentiments to agent Adam Katz at the end of the season.
But the Rangers will likely let Sosa explore the free agent market before they resume negotiations. Sosa has made it clear that he would also like to return to the Rangers.
Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. also filed for free agency. Rangers outfielder Brad Wilkerson and pitcher Jamey Wright are also eligible for free agency but have not yet filed. Daniels is already having discussions with Wright's agent, Casey Close, about a contract for next year.
Wright was 4-5 with a 3.62 ERA for the Rangers in 2007, splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen, however, the Rangers would likely bring him back as a bullpen candidate in '08. None of the Rangers free agents are ranked high enough to merit compensation.
The Elias Rankings have come out and Rangers shortstop Michael Young was ranked No. 1 among all American League second basemen, third basemen and shortstops, based on his statistics in 2006-07. He was ranked higher than Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez, among others. The only player at any of those three positions ranked higher than Young was Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.
Personally, I like this move. I think that Sammy had a great year with us, but he needs to move on, so that we can take a look at our own player such as Jason Botts. Botts slid into the the DH spot after the All-Star Break in September, and got off to a slow start. The Rangers need to take a look at this kid in the offseason and in ST...to see if in fact he is the "answer".
